Chapter 4

On the fifth day, David showed up on my mom's porch completely unannounced.

No text, no warning. He just pressed the doorbell.

My mom opened the door.

He stood there holding a grocery-store bouquet of flowers and a box of pastries, wearing his classic, charming son-in-law smile.

"Hey, Karen. I'm here to take Claire and Lily back home," he said.

My mom turned around to look at me.

I just sat frozen on the living room sofa, refusing to budge.

"David, just leave," I said.

"Claire, come on, drop the act," he said, stepping past my mom and dropping the…